“Now we’ve got a chance at least,” Bob cried, as he grabbed the axe. “Jack, light that lantern and hold it for me.”
Jack sprang to obey, and in another minute Bob was making a vigorous attack on the logs in the corner where Jack had located the fire.
“It’s gaining pretty fast,” he gasped a few minutes later, as he paused to get his breath.
“And so are you,” Jack encouraged him. “That log’s most through, and then it’ll be easier. Here, let me have a try at it.”
“Not yet. I’m all right,” Bob panted, as the axe sank deep into the log.
Chopping a log out of a cabin is an entirely different matter from cutting that same log in two in the open, where one could get at all sides of it. It was slow hard work, as the cut had to be made very wide, and it was impossible to get the full benefit of the swing. But he kept doggedly at it, and at last the axe sank completely through the six-inch log. He had made the cut about three feet from the corner and a few blows with the back of the axe sufficed to knock out the short end.
“Now my turn,” Jack said, as he sat down the lantern and took the axe from Bob’s hand.
“It doesn’t seem to be burning very fast now,” Bob panted. “One more log will be enough, I reckon.”
The next log was not quite so large, and Jack soon had it out. Bob was ready with the bucket and a large dipper.
“Now if only it hasn’t got too big a start,” he said, as he thrust his head out in an effort to see where to throw the water.